Exercise and massage machine



Sept. 16, 1941.

G. M. STEPHENS 2,255,864

EXERCISE AND MASSAGE MACHINE Filed July 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Attorney P 6, 1941. G. M. STEPHENS 2,255,864

EXERCISE AND MASSAGE MACHINE Filed July 5,- 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor A iiomey Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXERCISE AND MASSAGE MACHINE Goebel M. Stephens, Garden City, Mich.

Application July 5, 1940, Serial No. 344,169

6 Claims.

My invention relates to an exercise machine in which the benefits of pedalling exercise and spinal massage are together available tothe operator while in a reclining position, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and relatively inexpensive arrangement of this character.

Other important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description and the appended drawings wherein a preferred embodiment is set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general side elevational view of the embodiment.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on section line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional View.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designates the elongated rectangular box-like base designed to rest upon a supporting surface 6 and extend to a convenient height thereabove.

A sectional bracket 1 of reclining L-sh'ape has the foot portions of the sections bolted at 8 to one end of the base to hold therebetween the longitudinally inwardly inclining bar 9 having the hub ID at its upper end in which the bicycle pedal crankshaft ll turns. The pedal crankshaft has pedals I2 on its oppositely directed cranks on opposite sides of the hub in a position over the top of and on opposite sides of the longitudinal middle of the base 5. A sprocket wheel I3 on the crankshaft has a sprocket chain 14 trained thereover and depending through a slot I5.

A pair of brackets 16 depend from the top I! of the base on opposite sides of the sprocket chain and carry the conveyor roller I9 over which is trained one end portion of the horizontal conveyor belt 20 whose opposite end portion is trained over a similarly supported conveyor roller 2|. A ioreshortened horizontal partition 22 fixed to the side walls of the base 5 is positioned between the upper andlower flights of the conveyor belt. Upwardly spring pressed idler rollers 23 on the partition bear against the underside of the upper flight of the conveyor belt to hold the same yieldably up in position.

At substantially equally spaced intervals the outer side of the conveyor belt has pairs of ears 24 fixed thereon between which are journaled massaging rollers 25 of suitable material having cup formations 26 in their peripheries for augmenting the massaging action thereof. The flight of the conveyor belt nearest the top of the base supports its massage rollers in the longitudinal slot 23' formed in the top ll of the base to extend slightly thereabove to engage and longitudinally massage the spinal cord of a person lying on his back on the base and operating the pedals 12 with his feet. It is obvious that the rate of pedalling determines the vigor of the spinal massage imparted.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to limit the invention thereto, except as may be required by the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A device affording simultaneous pedalling exercise and spinal massage for a person in a reclining position, said device comprising a base having a top on which the person lies back down, said top being sup-ported above a supporting surface, a pedal crankshaft including pedal crank, means on said base supporting said crankshaft over one end of said base, an endless horizontally arranged conveyor belt under said top, rollers on said base supporting said conveyor belt in position, an operative connection betweensaid pedal crankshaft and one of said rollers whereby said conveyor belt is moved in unison with said crankshaft as the latter is pedalled by the feet of said person, and massage elements attached to the outer side of said conveyor belt, said top being formed with an opening through which the massage elements on the upper flight of the belt rise to engage the spinal region of said person.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein a support member is positioned between and along the upper and lower flights of the conveyor belt, said sup-port member having upwardly spring pressed elements holding the upper flight of the conveyor belt yieldably up in position.

3. An exercising and massaging device comprising a support including a surface against which the body of the subject is applied, a pedal equipped crankshaft mounted on said support adjacent one end of said surface, pulleys on said support at one side of said crankshaft, a belt trained over said pulleys, massage elements fixed on the outer surface of said belt and adapted to engage the portion of the body of the subject applied to said surface, and an operative connection between said crankshaft and at least one of said pulleys.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein a 5. A device according to claim 3 wherein said massage elements comprise corrugated rollers having brackets supportably connecting them to i the belt.

6. A device according to claim 3 wherein a 3 major portion of said belt is supported for movement in a plane substantially parallel to said surface, a support member behind said major portion of the belt, said support member comprising a series of spring sustained rollers arranged substantially parallel along said major portion of the belt to yieldably hold the same toward engagement with the body of the subject.

GO-EBEL M. STEPHENS. 

